Marvel’s S.H.I.E.L.D is in preproduction! Click the jump for plot and casting details!

It has been revealed that the roles of Agent Gemma Simmons and Agent Leo Fitz will be played by actors Elizabeth Henstridge and Iain De Caestecker in ABC’s new TV series, Marvel’s S.H.I.E.L.D. Both actors are British and Scottish respectively, continuing a trend of sourcing great talent from across the pond. *ehem* ANDREW LINCOLN! *cough*

Leo Fitz is cateorgized as being good with weapons and gadgets while Gemma Simmons’ character will wave the flag for science and technology. The two agents are also being describes as the next bickering ‘IT’ duo who annoy one another but that the audience will inevitably fall in love with. The actors playing the agents are relatively unknown and will be joining Ming-Na as Melinda May and Clark Gregg playing as Phil Coulson for the pilot.

The series Pilot will begin shooting in January 2013 with reports that Whedon is excited to be on board! To kick things off, Whedon will pen the first episode and will be joined by his brother, Jed Whedon and his wife Maurissa Tancharoen (Doctor Horrible’s Sing-a-Long Blog) as executive producers. The dream team is pictured below.

Hopefully, ABC will treat Whedon with the respect he deserves as this show is sure to gain some huge ratings and judging by the world’s new found love for celluloid super heroics, we could be seeing a full season of this show.

First ARROW and now S.H.I.E.L.D?!? We have every confidence that Joss Whedon will breathe new life into television’s already successful police procedural formula, and we can’t wait to see how it all plays out!